Carex plant named ‘Everlime’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Carex oshimensis , ‘Everlime’, characterized by its dwarf plant habit, its foliage that is variegated with deep green centers and lime green margins, and its robust growth habit.

Botanical classification: Carex oshimensis.

Varietal denomination: ‘Everlime’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Carex oshimensis and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Everlime’. ‘Everlime’ is a new cultivar of perennial ornamental grass grown for container and landscape use, primarily in shaded exposures.

The new cultivar, ‘Everlime’ arose as a naturally occurring chimeral mutation of Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ (not patented). The Inventor discovered ‘Everlime’ in 2009 in a container at his nursery in Oldtown, Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by rhizome division in Oldtown, Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland in 2009 by the Inventor. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by rhizome division and basal cuttings has determined that the characteristics are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Everlime’ as a distinct cultivar of Carex.

-   -   1. ‘Everlime’ exhibits a dwarf plant habit.     -   2. ‘Everlime’ exhibits foliage that is variegated with deep         green centers and lime green margins.     -   3. ‘Everlime’ exhibits a robust growth habit.         ‘Evergold’, the parent plant of ‘Everlime’, differs from         ‘Everlime’ in having foliage that is variegated with         creamy-yellow centers and green margins. ‘Everlime’ can be most         closely compared to the cultivar ‘Everillo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.         21,002) and and ‘Everoro’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,406).         ‘Everillo’ differs from ‘Everlime’ in having foliage that is         solid yellow in color. ‘Everoro’ differs from ‘Everlime’ in         having variegated foliage with centers that are golden yellow in         color with wide dark green margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of a six month-old plant the new Carex as grown outdoors in a 19-cm container in Oldtown, Stoneyford, C. Kilkenny, Ireland.

The photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates the dwarf plant habit and appearance of ‘Everlime’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the flowers of ‘Everlime’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Everlime’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Carex.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of six month-old plants as grown outdoors in a nursery in 19-cm containers in Co. Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Inflorescences emerge in end of February             and continue into mid summer in the Republic of Ireland.         -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous perennial, flattened globular with             arching leaves and inflorescences.         -   Growth habit.—Broad, spreading.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 25.7 cm in height, spreads             to about 50.9 cm in diameter.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 6.         -   Plant vigor.—Robust.         -   Diseases and pests.—Not more susceptible to pests and             diseases than other Carex varieties.         -   Root description.—Short, stout rhizomes with dense, fibrous             roots, roots moderately branched.         -   Propagation.—Rhizome division and basal cuttings.         -   Branching.—Average of 56 main shoots grow from the base, no             lateral branches. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Linear, strongly curved (arching).         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Sheathing.         -   Leaf apex.—Long acuminate.         -   Leaf aspect.—Leaves initially emerge upright, then cascade             outward and finally arch downward until the terminal blades             lay on the ground.         -   Leaf venation.—Parallel.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire and moderately sharp when rubbed             downwards due to very small teeth too small to be seen or             measured.         -   Leaf size.—Matures to an average of 305 cm in length and 7             mm in width.         -   Leaf number.—Average of 9 leaves per shoot.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf surface.—Both sides moderately glossy and smooth.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 143A to 144A, young lower             surface; 143A to 143B, mature upper surface; a color between             N137A and 139A with margins 144A, mature lower surface; 137A             to 137B.         -   Durability to stresses.—High.         -   Petiole.—No petioles, leaves sheathing; average of 2.1 cm in             length and diameter and ranging between 177B to 177C and             201A to 201B in color. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Terminal racemes, male and female             flowers on separate spikelets.         -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 7.4 cm in height and 1.7 cm             in width.         -   Flower quantity per inflorescence.—Average of 45 male             flowers placed in an average of 1 spikelet and an average of             40 female flowers placed in an average of 2 spikelets.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Flowers last about 10 days.         -   Flowering season.—Continuous from late winter into summer.         -   Response time to flower.—Approximately 8 months.         -   Rate of flower opening.—After first initial flowers open in             an inflorescence all flowers open within 3 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Flower buds.—Male flower: average of 0.5 cm in length and 2             mm in diameter, narrow oblong in shape and 199B to 199C in             color, female flower: average of 0.5 cm in length and 2 mm             in width, narrow obovate in shape and 147D in color.         -   Spikelet shape.—Sedge-like, narrowly ovate.         -   Persistence of spikelets.—Persistant.         -   Floret (spikelet) size.—Staminate florets; an average of 2             mm in diameter and 8 mm in length, pistillate florets; an             average of 3 mm in diameter and 6 mm in length.         -   Floret (spikelet) description.—1 glume on inner side and 1             lemma on outer side, male flower: average of 1 glume and 1             lemma, glume and lemma surfaces smooth and dull, glume and             lemma lanceolate in shape, glume and lemma entire margin,             glume apex long, narrow and acute, lemma apex long             mucronate, glume and lemma 8 mm in length and 1 mm in width,             glume and lemma color: upper and lower surface when opening             and fully open; N199C to N199D, female flower: (no glume),             lemma; 1, smooth and dull surfaces, lanceolate in shape,             entire margin, apex long mucronate, average of 6 mm in             length and 1 mm in width, color: upper and lower surface             when opening and fully open; 145A.         -   Peduncle.—An average of 21.5 cm in length and 1.5 mm in             diameter, held upright to 10° to upright, strong, 143A in             color. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Average of 1 pistil about 3 mm in length, stigma             is fimbriate and 156D in color, style is about 0.5 mm in             length and 144B in color, ovary is 144D in color.         -   Androcoecium.—Average of 3 stamens, basifixed, about 2 mm in             length and 162A to 162B in color, pollen production very low             and insufficient in quantity to be color coded.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Seed production has not been observed to             date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Carex plant named ‘Everlime’ as herein illustrated and described. 